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Entertainment Weekly's list of testosterone-driven love songsRight off the bat, let me disclose that my taste in love songs is not always conventional; the song that consistently moves me to tears is "Commitment" from the musical 1776. (Picture John and Abigail Adams expressing their love by sending each other saltpeter and pins. It's very moving. Really.) But my idiosyncratic tastes aside, when I think of love songs, I think emotional, a little girly, occasionally bombastic. (Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" immediately comes to mind.) So when I saw that Entertainment Weekly had compiled a list of the 25 Best Love Songs Ever, I expected a little girl power. However, it seems that songs become more "swoon-worthy" when they pass a bobbing Adam's apple on the way out. A full 78% of the songs on the list were recorded by men. Women do occupy a few prominent spots. Most notably, Aretha Franklin comes in at spot number four with her version of "(You Make Feel Like) A Natural Woman."
Certainly no reasonable person could object to this placement. Also in the top 10 is Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You."
While I prefer the Dolly Parton original, I have no trouble accepting this version at No. 6. But that's it for the top 10. And there are only three and one-half women in the remainder of the top 25. (No song is sung by half of a woman; one is a duet.) The remaining women are: 14. Etta James — "At Last"
She's certainly looking big, blonde and beautiful. 18. Beyoncé — "Crazy in Love"
19. Tammi Terrell (with Marvin Gaye) — "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
21. Cyndi Lauper — "Time After Time"
That's it. No Ella Fitzgerald, no Barbra Streisand, no Karen Carpenter. And I think it may be an actual crime that Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move" is not on the list. (I may have to check where Entertainment Weekly is incorporated and examine the relevant penal code.) But Guns N' Roses occupies spot eight with "Sweet Child O' Mine." So I'm going to list my own estrogen-fueled Top 10 (in no particular order): Ella Fitzgerald — "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"
Now that's a girl, er, sow-power love song! But these are just my opinions. What omissions offend your sensibilities? Submitted by on July 26, 2007 - 9:38am. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
As much as I detest Sarach
I had high hopes for you.
Oh man... if only I told you
Well....
good. no more haterade
wow
...
Ummmm
Songwriters?
I haven't seen EW's list of songs, but it would be interesting to see how many were WRITTEN by women. Diane Warren, powerhouse love song writer that she is, comes to mind. Also, a note on Sarah McL, I believe her CD "Surfacing" has actual healing powers. It 'surfaced' during a very trying time in my life and I can't even describe the effect every song had on me, helping ME to 'surface' from under a heap of dissappointment. Beautiful CD by a lovely woman.
my $0.02,
db
Odd list
EW's list is a little odd to me. Some of the songs, seem more anthems than love songs. At least that is what I thought right off the bat with Natural Woman.
Without using up too much brain power to construct a list, one of the only songs glaringly missing to me is Crazy by Patsy or Willie.
ETA: Oh, yeah, I also have to add my incredulity to... Beyonce? WTF?
ETA2: Muppet babies! That is all.
The Muppets
recessive lesbian gene
tiff, you must have the rare recessive lesbain gene that doesn't leave you with a built in obsession for sarah mclachlan. i thought your kind were just an urban legend. ;)
mine is clearly the dominant one because sarah is number one on my list and tori is right up there next to her. for that matter, try as i might i can't help but help enjoy celine dion -- and if that ever leaves this room i'll deny it and hunt every last one of you down.
not an urban legend at all,
Hehe, I rediscovered Bree
Hehe, I rediscovered Bree Sharp's song after years again just recently, and it still makes me smile, especially because of that hilarious video to go with it.
Also, I'm with those obsessing about SML. That woman is just great and I so hope to see her again live one.
kd lang & Sinead O'Connor
How about this: k.d.lang singing Jane Siberry's Love is Everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRHbql43OHE
I used to think the unrequited love of k.d.'s life when she wrote her hit song Constant Craving was Jane Siberry :)
Or another kd lang: Hush Sweet Love. Don't know when the video was made, but kd is one sexy number here, and I'm not even into butches :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN8AFVTUdcg&mode=related&search=
(I was trying to find k.d.lang's rendition of Cole Porter's So In Love which she did for the Red Hot + Blue AID's album in 1990, but it wasn't on YouTube. I remember being very struck by the song and video when it first came out.)
Another beautiful love song from the Red Hot + Blue album is Sinead O'Connor's You Do Something to Me. Her performance here is to die for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgcftCCtnPg
Or a trad.Irish love song,which Sinead interpretes superbly.She Moves through the Fair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ6laccu49Q
lovin' some sarah and tammi
yep...sarah mclachlan is unbelievably amazing...i don't think it's possible to truly detest her.
and is it just me or how HOT was tammi terrell??
I agree with Renee. While i
I agree with Renee. While i hate soft pop music, I love Sarah McLachlan. The hits she produces are amazing.
However, even though this was sung by a man, i thought it should have been on there too.
"This Year's Love" by David Gray.
love songs
I have to admit I do like the love songs I hav so many favourites some were on the list including 'At Last' which is an all time fav of mine and who could not love Aretha Franklin! but I can't help but fall in love with Elvis and his bloody fantastic voice!
I say he should have been #1 with 'Love Me Tender'
Elvis Rocks My Socks!
Where's Dusty?
Okay. I'm stunned. And mad as hell. Where on earth was the magnificent, untouchable queen of soul in all of this? Dusty Springfield was such a fine artist with so many gorgeous love songs.... The fact that Beyonce managed to make this list means that Dusty definitely merits a place.
"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" is probably her most famous love song, but there are so many other classics to choose from. Sad.
What about your mother- your mother earth?
Dusty!!!
Omg how could I forget Dusty! She rocks! I luv that song too (elvis did a cover of it) and her other song 'Its Over' (elvis did that one too) is also a great but sad song....I also luv 'Losing You' and 'I dont know what to do with myself' ok these are all sad songs....oooh how about 'I only want to be with you'
Elvis Rocks My Socks!
'I Only Want To be With
'I Only Want To be With You'- great choice! A nicy bouncy beat love song from Dusty. An awful lot of her love songs were devastatingly sad and melodramatic all right.... I hadn't noticed before!
What about your mother- your mother earth?
Dusty, absolutely
Divine Dusty
The Look Of Love
How could I forget this classic! I love her voice in this song...so sexy
Also 'Son of a Preacher Man' is a great song, and 'Soft Core' & 'Little By Little' ok I could be here all day naming all of her great songs and yet Beyonce was on the list, the world has gone mad!
Elvis Rocks My Socks!